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Air Cylinder and Solenoid Valve



This is a simple way to turn a used washer solenoid valve and a door return cylinder into whatever you can come up with. This is not the cheapest prop I have ever built, however when compared to store bought props, it seems like nothing.


What You Need

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For hosing I used 3/8 reinforced clear tubing (I purchased 5-10 feet).

The Valve

STEP 1


The first step is more or less 6 small steps. When all six steps are completed the solenoid valve will have a power cord, and all the nessary hook ups to be ready to hook to an air supply and a cylinder.
The valve has two inlets, which in normal use serve as inlets for your hot and cold water. It only has on outlet, which again would be the outlet for the hot and cold water lines to your washing machine. We will be using one inlet as the valve for the air in, and the other inlet as a relief valve. First things first, take the metal waterhose cap and pull the rubber gasket out. This cap will be used to cap the valve furthest away from the outlet, and without the rubber gasket to seal it, you now have a controled relief valve. Next you will need to put the waterhose adapter over the other valve, I even put a little pipe tape around the threading on the valve to ensure a tight seal. Next screw in the step down adapter into you waterhose adapter. Again use pipe tape to ensure a seal. Next screw the TrueFlate nipple into place, use sealing tap, and with this connection you are ready for any kind of air hose you can find.
With that out of the way you need to slip on the hose that will go to the event the valve is triggering. A 3/8 tubing works great for this with these blue solenoid valves. Simply dampen the pertruding plastic that the tube is going to slide over and twist and push the tubing on at the same time. Once you have it on where you like it throw a pipe-clamp on there for good measure.
The last small step needed is to solder you conections. Since I run all events using either a motion sensor or a pressure mat I solder a normal lamp plug onto the valve. Follow the pictures above for reference to parts.


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